I’m getting used to my new life here. Well, I miss cheese! My accommodation is old but decent, I feel good here. I really like my daily forty-ish minutes walk. My classmates living on the campus always tell me : “It so far!” “Doesn’t that bother you?” “I couldn’t”. No, I really like that! I walk through the city every day to go to university or to go home, I’m immersed into the Japanese daily life and it’s a chance to experience that! I see people going to work, children going and leaving school, I smell the yummy sweet smells from many bakeries in the station. I like this healthy and quiet atmosphere.

I don’t feel stressed here, people don’t run to catch up the train or the bus, everybody respects everybody’s space. I feel safe. Each one lives one’s life in respect and harmony, the two essential values on which Japanese society is built.

I’m doing a lot of shopping, though. I already found some gifts. I easily weaken against goodies and cloth. Kiddyland, the “kawaii” store is my heaven. I fell in love with the brand “Sumikko Gurashi”, everything is absolutely adorable !

Cost of living is really high in Japan. Doing the food shopping isn’t easy. The prices of vegetables and fruits are exorbitant. I mostly buy Japanese curry sauce, rice, noodles, miso soup, tofu and kimchi. As everything is not translated into English, it’s impossible to know the content. I’d like do food shopping with Japanese sometimes so that they can advice me. I love cooking and discovering new recipes and ingredients.

In France, I could eat healthy without breaking the bank. Here, it’s impossible. I wanted to stop eating meat, I began this initiative in France. During this first month in Japan, I couldn’t do so. It’s the total culinary discovery ! After one month of adjustment, I’m starting to get vegetarian lunches like mixed salad, raw vegetables, bowl of rice, bowl of miso soup, slices of vegetables that the cafeteria sells. For 170 yen (1€50), I eat a bowl of rice and two slices of pumpkin. To be honest, it’s enough ! Japanese rice is thick, we are easily full.

About cloth, shoes, household products, cosmetics, household goods… cost is the same than in France. Some things may be a bit more expensive but I don’t see a big difference. So, I try as much as possible to get my stuff from the 100 yen shops. Also, organic industry is starting to develop.

I can’t complain about my rent, though. It’s only 5900 yen (about 51€) et charges are 3000 yen (26€). Charges include the Internet connection but not water nor gas nor electricity costs. To get a more precise idea, I have to pay for October : 851 yen (7€40) of gas, 2502 yen (21€70) of water and 1144 yen (almost 10€) of electricity. My room is 17m2 large so it’s really cheap ! I spend 55€ of train each month with student discount.

I have not eaten a lot in restaurant yet. But I tried ramen and KFC. Gosh, ramen is so fat ! But KFC EVEN MORE ! Not being used to cook with oil, I was sick all night… KFC is better than in France, it’s more seasoned but it’s super fat XD It’s sickening. I got a “pack value” with 4 pieces of chicken, a couple was enough. I forced myself to finish the leftover. Here, we get a bowl of ramen for the same price of kebab in France!

I felt my first earthquake in the middle of the night ! What a funny sensation! I didn’t know whether I had the sensation to fall over the edge because I fell asleep. But my bed shaked for real ! It banged against the wall as if the dorm was moving with its little legs ! I was so excited XD The best idea ever was to tell my parents immediatly “Earthquake righ now!!!” “OH MY GOD shut up don’t tell that!!” Sorry…

Saturday 22nd October, a couple of Japanese students took me and the German students to Beppu, the capital of onsen (hot springs). We had lunch in a good restaurant for 900 yen and then we continued our visit in the rain. We tried ashiyu (the feet hotsprings). It was so hot! But it’s fine once we got used to it. We tasted hot water from hot springs. How to say… it’s gross ? 😀 Because of the minerals, water tasted like liquid egg white. Erk. We finished our stroll with the visit of Kamedo Jigoku parc gathering several types of hot springs called “Hells of Beppu”. Beppu is known for its many hot springs and its “Hells”, hot springs with very very hot temperature in which bathing is impossible. It was a very good day ! みんなさん、ありがとう！(= Thank you everybody !)

On Sunday 23rd October, a meeting between students and host families was organized in the campus. Oita university gives us the chance to experience home-stay! It’s an authentic opportunity to improve Japanese and experience a Japanese daily life. The families were very sweet. We introduced ourselves to each families in Japanese and played little games together. It was fine. If contacts were good, we can apply for home-stay and fill in a handout. Then, we have to wait for the selection made by the university according to our profil and request.

From 4th to 6th November, the school festival will be held ! We made nationality groups and each one has to cook a speciality from the country enrolled. As I am the only French, I team up with Hungarian students. So, we are going to cook Hungarian crepes ! ^^ I’m also going to try for the first time the tea ceremony! I’m looking forward to doing it!!

Due to the public holiday and the school Festival, no class on Thursday and Friday ! So, it’s a long weekend. About class, Japanese is getting difficult! We learn a lot of notions in a little bit of time, we have to study a lot. Until now, we have to know 177 kanji. We have to learn 15 new kanji every week and we have a test every Friday. For a couple of classes, I have to provide a presentation in groups. In the “Manga studies” class, it will be about cosplay in manga and in the “Intercultural Communication” class we have to talk about multiculturalism in Japan focusing on Ainu people.

AAAAH ! Good news ! Maxime is coming in December !!! I can’t wait ! The separation is difficult, jet lag is a real weight especially when we have both of us busy days. We share the same passion for Japanese culture. I wish he could be with me every step of the way to share those so rich moments.

On 19th November an annual Bamboo Festival will be held in Taketa. I seems beautiful! There are a lot of Festival celebrating fall and must-see events. Salomé talked me about Kitsuki, a famous castle town in Oita Prefecture. Its townscape still looks like Edo period. The town preserved some old samurai houses. We can try wearing a kimono and stroll around the town for only 2400 yen. It’s a tourist spot but it makes me dream!

Quelque photos d’Halloween ^-^ Je me suis inspirée de Sally de “Nightmare before Christmas” Some pictures of the Halloween party

This month was an emotional rollercoaster and quite strange. I do have a lack of self-confident. But now I’m learning from it and I hope to become stronger. Unfortunately, my Japanese doesn’t improve. We use English everytime, even with Japanese students. I often ask 日本語でください ! (= In Japanese please!) but conversions go back to English. Some Japanese students who learn French asked me to help them. It would be a real pleasure to teach them my language. I met a shitload of students. It’s really difficult to remember all of the names but the university is small so I meet the same people every day.